She was learning everything she could about those objects and how they worked.

FORBES: Want To Find Out Everything You Need To Know? Here's How

Off to his right, beyond a wooden gate, dozens of stuffed animals and toy cars were stacked neatly on shelves lining the wall, held up as special rewards rather than put out every day as objects for play and learning.

FORBES: Adopting a Crusade

"This way, we are both learning important things about our past and preserving objects for future generations, " he said.

BBC: Ancrum bishop's palace search begins

Alex (his name supposedly an acronym for Avian Learning Experiment) eventually learned the names of about 50 objects, knew the numerals from one to six, could perform simple addition and used categories such as similarity and difference, shape, colour and material.

ECONOMIST: Alex the African Grey

In each of these areas, the machines, objects, systems, and all sorts of other items and sensors are growing a brain and learning to talk.

FORBES: New Sources for Business Surprises